Prior to a buyout from Microsoft, Yahoo is an alternative to Microsoft. People chose Yahoo for their own reasons, but some of those reasons may have been to avoid supporting Microsoft. Is it a lot of people? A few? No one really knows, but you are right – Microsoft is forking out a lot of money to do this. What if the worst should happen and they lose user base instead of keep it? Are they driving people to Google?

The beauty of three options is… there are three options. On the Desktop, you have OS/X, Linux and Windows. Everyone has their own thing, some more vocal than others – but there are options. Microsoft isn’t known for being kind to competition – and yes, I know, business is business – but monopolistic practices found in a Court of Law are… somewhat peculiar.

So maybe you’re right and it is good for Microsoft. I don’t know. Maybe it isn’t good for Microsoft. It doesn’t matter to me. What does matter to me is that I have options. I don’t invite guests to the dinner table who might eat other guests.